Adjustable seat belt anchorage

ABSTRACT

An upper anchorage for a shoulder belt of a vehicle seat belt system comprises a plate-like carriage slidable within a generally tubular upright track having a longitudinal slot through which a support for the belt outwardly projects. An arm or arms pivoted on the carriage, or a spring loaded detent projecting therefrom, normally engage in recesses in a wall or walls of the tubular track. The carriage can then quite readily be moved at least upwardly as desired. When a predetermined tension is experienced by the belt the support moves to cause the or each arm to be moved into, or further into, the recess, or, if only upward movement is normally permitted, the support can be moved upwardly on the carriage to allow adjustment downwardly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to adjustable anchorages for seat belts such asare employed in vehicles, particularly road vehicles, for the protectionof the occupants.

The invention relates particularly but not exclusively to an adjustableanchorage for the upper end of the shoulder belt of a vehicle seat beltsystem. The shoulder belt extends in use diagonally downwards from theanchorage across the torso of the user and may have one end secured tothe vehicle by way of the anchorage. Alternatively, the belt may extendto the anchorage from a retractor, the anchorage providing a loop orslot through which the belt is guided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustableshoulder anchorage which is simple for the user to operate.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustableshoulder anchorage which is readily manufactured and is reliable inoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an adjustable shoulder anchorage in which

a support for the belt is mounted on a carriage for movement in responseto a predetermined tension in the belt, the carriage means being guidedon a track,

and a latch on the carriage is engageable with the track to oppose themovement of the carriage,

movement of the support relative to the carriage being adapted toenhance the engagement of the latch with the track.

Preferably, the track has a plurality of latch configurations spacedtherealong, in the form of opposed recesses in the side walls of achannel member constituting the track, and the latch is spring biassedto engage in an adjacent recess.

The latch and the latch configurations can be shaped to permitratcheting of the latch along the track during said movement of thecarriage in the absence of tension in the belt.

The latch can comprise two arms pivoted on the carriage with the supportlocated between them, the arms being so shaped that the movement of thesupport means cams the arms outwardly into enhanced engagement with thetrack recesses.

The support can be manually movable relative to the carriage in adirection other than the direction of movement in response to thepredetermined belt tension to move the latch to free the carriage formovement as the user desires. Where the latch means comprises two armspivoted on the carriage, a pin and slot mechanism can be operativebetween the support and the arms to effect inwards pivoting of the armsin response to this manual movement.

The latch means can instead comprise a first element permanently biassedto engage an adjacent latch recess to oppose but not prevent movement ofthe carriage and an arm normally spaced from the track but engageablewith a latch recess on the movement of the support under the belttension.

The first latch element can comprise a spring-urged detent pin, or aspring-biassed arm pivoted on the carriage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a belt support assembly forming part of a firstvehicle seat belt shoulder anchorage embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 and ofa track in which it is received;

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional front view with parts removed of the assemblyreceived within the track,

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 to 3 of asecond anchorage embodying the invention;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are section views of parts of the anchorage shown inFIGS. 4 to 6 in operation;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third such anchorage embodying theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the anchorage of FIG. 8, shown partly brokenaway to reveal the interior;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a fourth such anchorageembodying the invention, and

FIG. 11 is a front view of the anchorage of FIG. 10, again shown partlybroken away.

The seat belt 1 shown in FIG. 1 extends upwardly from an emergencylocking retractor (not shown) through an elongate metal loop 2, and thendiagonally downwards across the torso of the wearer. The loop 2 is heldwith its plane inclined to the horizontal by means of a metal bracket 4consisting of a metal plate folded around the upper longer side of theloop and secured thereto, the doubled over portion of the bracket beingapertured to receive therethrough a headed bolt 5 with a plain shankportion 6 and a threaded free end 8.

The bolt 5 forms a part of the belt support assembly which comprisesalso a carrier slide 10 having a generally rectangular portion with acentral upright elongate slot 11 (FIG. 2), and an upper extensionportion 12 the free end of which is bent forwardly to receive thereon aknob 14 by which the assembly can be manipulated.

A pair of lockbars 15 are pivotally connected to the slide 10,rearwardly of the knob 14, each lockbar comprising a plate with a pin 16projecting into an aperture in the slide 10 to afford the pivotalconnections. Above the pivotal connections, the two lockbars 15 areapertured for connection together by a tension spring 18, and below thepivotal connection, the lockbars widen out towards each other overinclined ramp portions 19. At its lower end, each lockbar 15 has alaterally outwardly extending pawl portion 20.

An actuator 22 of stepped circular cross-section has small diameter endportion 24 which is centrally tapped to receive the threaded shank 8 ofthe bolt 5. The end portion 24 abuts the end of the bolt portion 6 andis received in the elongate slot 11 of the frame 10. An intermediateportion 25 of the actuator, of larger diameter, is received between theupper portions of the lockbars 15, and an end portion 26 of largerdiameter still, bears against the rear sides of the lockbars to retainthem in assembly with the frame 10. One side edge of the slide 10 has anotch and an aperture by means of which a spring 28 is mounted so as toact on the underside of the bolt portion 8, to urge this and theactuator 25 upwardly in the slide 10, so that the portion 25 is abovethe lockbar ramp portions 19.

The belt support assembly is received within an elongate metal track 30(FIGS. 2 and 3) comprising a rear web 31 and side webs 32 from whichfront webs 34 extend parallel to the rear web to spaced apart edges. Thefront webs 34 trap the assembly within the track, and through the slotbetween them the bolt 5 and the knob 14 outwardly project. Apertures 35in the side webs 32 are spaced apart along the length of the track andare arranged in transversely opposed pairs.

The belt support assembly is received within the track 30, with thelockbar pawl portions 20 normally extending in an opposed pair of theapertures 35 to hold the assembly in position. The actuator 22 is urgedby the spring 28 into the upper end of the slot 11, and in thiscondition, the assembly can be freely ratcheted up or down along thetrack, the knob 14 being manually grasped to effect the movement. Thepawl portions 20 have rounded edges shaped so that they can readily rideout of the side web apertures 35 at the start of this movement againstthe force of the tension spring 18, which however causes them to entereach opposed pair of the apertures as they come into adjacency withthem.

The belt support assembly is thus normally held in position in the track30 in a manner readily permitting movement. However, as soon as adownward force is applied to the bolt 5, as by tension in the belt 1acting through the elongate loop 2 and bracket 4, the intermediateactuator portion 25 moves downwardly in the frame slot 11, against thespring 28, and in doing so, it acts on the ramp portions 19 of thelockbars 15, to force the pawl portions 20 outwardly into the apertures35 so that the assembly is very firmly latched against movement in thetrack.

The belt support assembly can thus normally be moved fairly freely upand down the track 30, but is immediately and automatically locked inposition when tension is applied to the belt 1, as would occur underemergency conditions, when the belt is restraining its wearer againstforward movement from his seat.

The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 will now be described. Partsof the second embodiment corresponding to parts of the first embodimentare indicated by reference numerals increased by 100.

FIG. 4 corresponds closely to FIG. 1 and will not be described in detailexcept to say that the metal bracket 104 of this second embodimentdiffers from the bracket 4 of FIG. 1 in having an outwardly turnedextension portion 104' above the bolt 105 and generally parallel withthe knob 114. Alternatively, this extension portion 104' could be formedon the bolt 105, on a loop cover, or on any other suitable component inthis area.

In a manner similar to the first embodiment, the second embodimentincludes a pair of lockbars 115 having pins 116 projecting intoapertures in the slide 110 to provide the pivotal connections, a tensionspring 118, and, on the lockbars 115, inclined ramp portions 119 andpawl portions 120.

An actuator 122 of the second embodiment comprises a head portion 126 ofgenerally rectangular shape, an intermediate cylindrical portion 125,and a small diameter end portion 124 which is centrally tapped toreceive the threaded shank 108 of the bolt 105. The end portion 124abuts the end of the bolt portion 106 and is received in the elongateslot 111 of the slide 110. The intermediate portion 125 of the actuatoris received between the upper portions of the lockbars 115. Therectangular head portion 126 bears against the rear sides of thelockbars 115 to retain them in assembly with the slide 110.

Two slots 200 are provided in the head portion 126 of the actuator 122,one on each side of the intermediate portion 125 and angled as shown inFIG. 5. Two pins 202 extend rearwardly one for each lockbar 15. Thesepins 202 are located respectively one in each of the slots 200.

The belt support assembly is received within an elongate metal track 130comprising a rear web 131, side webs 132 from which front webs 134extend parallel to the rear web and terminating in spaced edges. Thefront webs 134 trap the assembly within the track, and through the slotbetween them the bolt 105, the loop extension 104' and the knob 114project outwardly. Apertures 135 in the side webs 132 are spaced alongthe length of the track and are arranged in transversely opposed pairs.

With this second embodiment the locking members, i.e. the lockbars 115,are always latched except when one is manually adjusting the anchorage.In the normal position, i.e. the resting position, when the seatbelt isbeing worn, the lockbars 115 are latched into the slots 135 in thetrack, as shown in FIG. 7a. In this position the pins 202 on thelockbars 115 are positioned at the top of the two slots 200. It shouldalso be noted that the sides of the head portion 126 of the actuator 122locate on the inside faces of the side webs 132 of the track 130. Thisprevents rotation of the actuator 122 relative to the assembly.

If one wishes to raise the belt support assembly relative to the track,then an upward movement of the running loop 102 and bracket 104, whichare connected to the sliding components, causes the pins 202 to be urgeddown the slots 200 towards the position shown in FIG. 7b. As thishappens so the pawl portions 120 of the lockbars 115 are withdrawn fromengagement with the slots 135 (FIG. 7b). This also causes the spring 118to be tensioned. The disengagement of the pawls 120 from the slots 135is aided by rounding the top corner of the pawls so that they then "rollover" the adjacent upper edge of the slot 135. The lower portion of eachpawl 120 is formed with a sharply defined edge for definite latchingengagement of the pawl in the slot. Once the pawls are disengaged fromthe slots the belt support assembly can be moved up the track to anothersetting.

In order to adjust the belt support assembly downwards relative to thetrack, one simply manually pinches together the knob 114 and theextension piece 104'. The action of pinching these components togetherhas the effect of again camming the pins 202 down the slots 200, thusforcing the lockbars 115 out of engagement. The assembly can then belowered to the desired new setting. The lockbars 115 are then re-engageddue to the action of the tensioned spring 118.

Advantageously, the slots 200 extend upwardly beyond the position ofpins 202 shown in FIG. 7a so that a predetermined tension in the beltcan cause downward movement of the belt support assembly relative to theslide 110, so that the lockbars 115 are urged outwardly by action of theportion 125 on the ramp portions 119, and the pawl portions 120 areurged further into the recesses 135.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the track 40 is channelshaped, the side webs 41 extending from the front centre web 42 towardsthe door pillar to which the track is secured by one or more inwardlybent extension portions 44 of the centre web, apertured at 45 to receivea bolt or other fastener. The side webs 41 are provided with rows ofapertures 46 and one side web has a longitudinal slot 48 parallel to therow of apertures and nearer than the row to the free edge of the web.

The carrier slide 50 has the form of a plate, received within the trackparallel to and adjacent the front web 42, on which is pivoted, by wayof a pin 51, a lever 52 having an apertured end 54 projecting outwardlyof the track through the slot 48 and an opposed end 55 formed as atooth. A spring 56 received around the pivot pin has a respective areasengaging the lever and the slide end urges the lever into the positionshown in which the toothed end 55 is spaced away from the apertures inthe adjacent side web 41. The apertured end 54 of the lever carries arunning loop (not shown) for the belt. A cutout towards the lower edgeof the slide defines an arm 58 on which is carried a ball catch having adetent element 59 urged by a spring 60 to releasably enter the aperturesin the adjacent side web 41.

In the normal position shown, the spring 56 holds the toothed end 55 ofthe lever 52 clear of the side web apertures but a sufficient pulltransmitted through the belt to the lever overcomes the spring force sothat the lever is securely locked to the track by engagement of thetoothed end into one of the side web apertures. The spring 60 appliesforce to the detent element 59 to retain the slide 50 in the positionalong the track to which it has been set. The slide 50 can however bemoved manually along the track by means of a portion, convenientlyconstituted by an extension of the pin 51, projecting outwardly througha longitudinal slot 61 in the front web 42. This portion of the pin 51can be threaded for reception of a lock nut 62, so that the slide can bereleasably retained in the selected position by tightening the nutagainst the front web. The ball catch serves to locate the slide 50 sothat the toothed end 55 is correctly positioned to engage the side webapertures 46.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the track 70 has afront web 71 with a longitudinal slot 72, side webs 74, and rear webs 75turned towards each other. A platelike carrier slide 76 moves along thetrack against the rear webs 75 and pivotably carries a lever 77 by meansof a pivot pin 78. The lever 77 has a toothed end 79 engageable inspaced side web apertures 80, and an apertured end 81 projectingoutwardly of the track 70 through a slot in the other side web 74 tosupport the seat belt. The pivot pin 78 has a threaded end portionprojecting outwardly through the front web slot 72 for reception of alock nut 82 or other releasable fastener for clamping the slide 76 in aselected position along the track.

The lever 77 is normally held in the inoperative position shown by anupper arm portion 84, the free end 85 of which bears against the sideweb 74 with the row of apertures 80 under the urging of a two-armedspring 86 received on the pin 78. The arm portion 84 is cranked so thatthe free end portion 85 engages the side web alongside the apertures 80.The spring 86 acts with its other arm not on the slide 76 but on adetent lever 88 pivoted on the pin 78 and having a detent end portion 89received in the apertures 80 to correctly locate the slide 76 forengagement of the toothed end 79 into one of these apertures when asufficient pull is experienced on the lever 77, typically in the beltdirection indicated by the arrow 90.

It is evident that those skilled in the art may make numerousmodifications of the specific embodiments described above withoutdeparting from the present inventive concepts. It is accordinglyintended that the invention shall be construed as embracing each andevery novel feature and novel combination of features present in orpossessed by the apparatus herein described and that the foregoingdisclosure shall be read as illustrative and not as limiting except tothe extent set forth in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. Adjustable anchorage means for a seat belt system, saidadjustable anchorage means comprising:carriage means support means for acomponent of said seat belt system and mounted on said carriage meansfor movement relative thereto from a first position in response to apredetermined load applied to said component, track means guiding saidcarriage means for movement of said carriage means along said trackmeans in order to adjust the position of said carriage means relative tosaid track means, latch means on said carraige means and engaging saidtrack means in said first position of said support means to oppose saidmovement of said carriage means, and means responsive to said movementof said support means relative to said carriage means to enhance saidengagement of said latch means with said track means.
 2. The anchoragemeans of claim 1 wherein the support means is adapted to receive theupper end of the diagonal run of a vehicle seat belt.
 3. The anchoragemeans of claim 1 including resilient means biassing said latch meansinto said engagement with said track means.
 4. The anchorage means ofclaim 3 wherein said track means has a plurality of latch configurationsspaced therealong and wherein said biassing means is arranged to biassaid latch means to engage with an adjacent latch configuration.
 5. Theanchorage means of claim 4 wherein said latch means comprises at leastone arm pivoted on said carriage means and having an end portion andwherein said latch configurations comprise apertures in a wall of saidtrack means into which said end portion can project.
 6. The anchoragemeans of claim 4 wherein said latch means and said latch configurationsare adapted to permit ratcheting of said latch means on said latchconfigurations during said movement of said carriage means when saidsupport means is in said first position.
 7. The anchorage means of claim6 wherein said track means has a plurality of latch configurationsspaced therealong and wherein said latch means comprises first meanspermanently biassed to engage an adjacent latch configuration to opposebut not prevent said movement of said carriage means and second meansengageable with a latch configuration on said movement of said supportmeans from said first position to prevent said movement of said carriagemeans in at least one direction.
 8. The anchorage means of claim 7wherein said first and second latch means are so positioned that saidengagement of said first latch means locates said carriage means forprecise engagement of said second latch means with a latch.[.configuraiton.]. .Iadd.configuration.Iaddend..
 9. The anchorage meansof claim 7 wherein said first latch means comprises a spring-urgeddetent pin.
 10. The anchorage means of claim 7 wherein said first andsecond latch means .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.comprise.Iaddend.spring-biassed arms pivoted on said carriage means.
 11. Theanchorage means of claim 7 wherein said support means is pivoted on saidcarriage means and said second latch means comprises an end portion ofsaid support means.
 12. The anchorage means of claim 7 furthercomprising means whereby said carriage means can be selectively clampedto said track means.
 13. The anchorage means of claim 4 wherein saidlatch means comprises two arms pivoted on the carriage means with saidsupport means therebetween, said arms being so shaped that said movementof said support means from said first position cams said arms outwardlyinto enhanced engagement with said track means.
 14. The anchorage meansof claim 13 further comprising spring means opposing said movement ofsaid support means from said first position.
 15. The anchorage means ofclaim 4 wherein said engagement of said latch means with said adjacentlatch configuration prevents said movement of said carriage means in atleast one direction and wherein said support means is manually movablerelative to said carriage means in a direction other than the directionof said movement in response to said predetermined load to therebyeffect movement of said latch means to permit movement of said carriagemeans in said at least one direction.
 16. The anchorage means of claim15 wherein said latch means is pivoted on said carriage means andwherein said manual movement of said support means cams said latch meansfrom the engagement with the track means.
 17. The anchorage means ofclaim 15 wherein said latch means comprises two arms pivoted on saidcarriage means with said support means therebetween, and wherein a pinand slot mechanism is operative between said support means and saidcarriage means to effect inwards pivoting of said arms in response tosaid manual movement of said support means.
 18. The anchorage means ofclaim 4 wherein said track means comprises opposed parallel side walls,spaced apertures in said side walls, and a front wall having alongitudinal slot, wherein said carriage means comprises a plate memberslidably guided by said front and side walls and having a slot extendingparallel to said front wall slot, wherein said latch means comprises twoplate-like arms pivoted on said plate member and having free ends, andspring means biassing said arms to urge said free ends into said sidewall apertures, and wherein said support means extends through saidfront wall and carriage slots and has a portion received between saidarms, said support means and said arms being co-operatively shapedwhereby said support means has a position along said plate member slotin which said arm free ends are additionally urged into said side wallapertures.
 19. Upper anchorage means for a shoulder belt of a seat beltsystem, said anchorage means comprising:carriage means, track meansslidably guiding said carriage means for upwards and downwards movementtherealong, support means for said shoulder belt, means slidably guidingsaid support means for upwards and downwards movement of said carriagemeans, a plurality of latch recesses spaced along said track means,latch means movably mounted on said carriage means and biassed to engagein an adjacent one of said latch recesses to thereby prevent at leastdownward movement of said carriage means, and co-operating means on saidsupport means and on said latch means whereby .[.an.]. .Iadd.on.Iaddend.upward movement of said support means on said carriage meanssaid latch means is moved to permit said downward movement of saidcarriage means.
 20. The upper anchorage means of claim 19 wherein saidlatch means are shaped to permit upward movement of said carriage meansby movement against said bias without said upward movement of saidsupport means on said carriage means.
 21. The upper anchorage means ofclaim 19 wherein said support means is movable on said carriage meansfrom an intermediate position, in which said downward movement of saidcarriage means is prevented by engagement of said latch means and saidadjacent latch recess, by said upward movement to a second position andby a downward movement to a third position in which said engagement ofsaid latch means and said adjacent latch recess is enhanced. 22.Adjustable anchorage means for a seat belt system, the adjustableanchorage means comprising:carriage means, track means slidably guidingsaid carriage means for movement therealong in first and second oppositedirections, support means on said carriage means for a component of avehicle seat belt system, means slidably guiding said support means formovement on said carriage means in said first and second directions, aplurality of latch recesses spaced along said track means, latch meansmovably mounted on said carriage means and biassed to engage in anadjacent one of said latch recesses to thereby prevent movement of saidcarriage means on said track means in at least said first direction andco-operating means on said support means and on said latch meanswhereby, upon movement of said support means on said carriage means insaid second direction, said latch means is moved to permit said movementof said carriage means in said first direction.
 23. The anchorage meansof claim 22 wherein said latch means comprises two arms pivoted on saidcarriage means with said support means therebetween, wherein said latchrecesses are arranged in pairs with the recesses of each pair being inopposite longitudinal edges of said track means, and wherein a pin andslot mechanism is operative between said support means and said carriagemeans to effect inwards movement of said arms in response to saidmovement of said support means in said second direction.